Promoting physical activity in general practice: a controlled trial of written advice and information materials

Objective-To investigate the impact of a simple written prescription for ph ysical activity given by a general practitioner and the effect of supplemen ting this with mailed information materials about physical activity. Methods-A controlled trial was conducted in 27 general practices in New Sou th Wales, Australia. Subjects were sequential routine care patients between 25 and 65 years old. Controls (n = 386) were recruited first, and interven tion subjects two weeks later. intervention subjects were randomised to rec eive a prescription only (n = 380) or a prescription plus a mailed booklet (n = 376). Self reported physical activity levels were measured by intervie w at baseline, 6-10 weeks, and seven to eight months. Results-By intention to treat, the average changes in minutes of total phys ical activity did not differ significantly between the groups. Inactive peo ple in the prescription plus supplementary booklet group were significantly more likely than controls to report an increase in their physical activity by at least 60 min/week after 6-10 weeks (odds ratio 1.58, 95% confidence interval 1.06 to 2.35). No significant short term improvements in self repo rted activity were shown in the prescription only group. in the supplemente d group, the proportion reporting an increase in physical activity to 3344 kJ/week at 6-10 weeks was not significant, and neither intervention group s howed significant increases in any of the outcome measures at seven to eigh t months by intention to treat. Treatment received analysis showed greater improvements in intervention groups, especially the prescription plus bookl et group, in which the odds of inactive people in this group reporting incr eased activity became significant at seven to eight months, Conclusions-A prescription for physical activity from a general practitione r, supplemented by additional written materials, can lead to modest short t erm improvements in self reported physical activity levels among inactive p atients. A prescription alone was found not to be effective.